San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-23
FOR TEXAS.


What an Enlightened Editor Say.
Mr. X. II. Claridge, editor Of the Tex
as StoOkman and Farmer, Of this city,
contributes the following interesting
letter 20 the National Real Estate Index,
a widely circulated journal, published at
KansRs City:
1t is hard for even Texans to realize
bow big country they live In, to say
nothing Of the inability Of outsiders, 10
comprehend the magnitude of our glor-
iOus Lone Star commonwealth. She is
not only grand In extent, but great In
resources, and while hitherto southern
Texas has to al extent been overlooked,
il is coming to be understood that the
best II not the biggest portion OF Texas
Lies south OF Il line drown from ShreVe-
port 10 I'll PasO. The size of Texas
is against her with the outside
world TO explain, she Is so
big and has SO great diversity
Of soil, surface and climate, that when
one section, small though il may be, Is
afflicted by drOutb or other adverse con-
ditiOn, the entire state suffers in cOnse-
1uence of the exaggerated reports that
20 abroad regarding the trouble. This
Is well illustrated by the condition OF
affairs prevailing ut present. While
state committee has been distributing
free supplies to the drOuth sufferers or
one small portion of the state, from
many sections of southern and western
Texas large numbers OF fat beeves and
muttOns are going out to market. And
while admitting that the dTOuth covers
larger area than was perhaps ever be-
fore known, in large portion OF the
state rain has been abundant, and crops
aud stock are in flOurishing condition,
and only suffer decline In values OF
land and stock from sympathy with
other and less fortunate sections.
Admitted that San Antonio will come
10 for share o. the tidal wave of pros
perity that las already made its pres
ence felt south of Mason and Dixon's
line, and the admission carries with IL
promise OF greater field for specula-
tive Investment al San Antonio than
elsewhere, because property In and near
the city is lower than in any other city
of near her size and commercial import
ance in the country. While the land
tributOry TO San Antonio produces well
without irrigation, ii would be unjus to
the CITY to fail to mention the fact that
the broad valley Of the San Antonio
river for many miles above and below Is
irrigable; and il is needless TO explain
what irrigation means in this climate.
Briefly stated, the following are some Of
her advantages:
SAN ANTONIO
Is the metropolis of Texas. and the GEN.
ire of the great stock raising region of
western and southern Texas Beside be-
ing the largest cattle and wool market
in the south, San Antonio Is the largest
horse market In the world. And being
surrOui ded, as she is, by a grand agri-
cultural country which ia being rapidly
developed, her Importance AS cotton
and grain market ia steadily and surely
advancing. The advance Of San Antonio
In population and wealth has been by
sheer force OF her location, in point OF
health and commercial advantages,
rather than by dint OF any effort on the
part of her men of wealth or her
city government The business men
Of San Antonio are safe, but
conservative, and our only fear
regarding the future OF the city has been
that their conservatism and reliance up
pOn her natural advantages might de-
prive her of fair share of the grand
boom that is sweeping southwark. But
despite the sluggishness of her capital
lists, she is growing steadily, and keep
ing even pace with other cities that gen
crate great deal more buster. And
now that, latterly, her business people
and city government show a disposition
to make known to the world her adVan-
tages, and to set on foot measures cal
cNIatrd to increase her attractions for
the seeker after health and wealth, we
have 10 doubt that she is directly in the
rack Of the southwestern boom, and
that when il hits her 1t will hit her
hard.
She is the centre of great and rapid
" developing agricultural and live stock
region; her railroads are all trunk lines;
she has two direct roads into Mexico,
leaving out the FL PasO connection; with
proper sanitary arrangements soon 10 be
accomplished, she will be the healthiest
city of her size in the world. She is
above the malaria line; she is above the
yellow fever line; she is a sanitarium FOR
throat gnd lung affections; her society is
of the best; she has splendid system OF
public free schools; and in short, with
her soil. water and climate, it only re-
mains for the combination OF brain, and
muscle aud money to make of the Ala
mo city perfect bower of beauty-the
lUyelitst city in the south.